David Telling
Encyclopedia
David Malcolm Telling was the founder of MITIE Group
, which is now one of the United Kingdom
's largest facilities management companies. Born in Harrow
, North London
on 12 August 1938 and brought up in Cleeve
in Somerset
, David Telling was educated at Cheltenham College
. He died on 31 October 2003, aged 65.
and was commissioned into the King's Own Scottish Borderers
in December 1957: he guarded Rudolf Hess
at Spandau Prison
and saw active service during the Malayan Emergency
.
Following his national service Telling went on to train as accountant. After managing the London
based business Veronese, Telling went on to join the HAT Group, a building services business founded by his father, Albert Telling. David Telling became Managing Director of HAT Group in 1976 and Chairman in 1984. He expanded the business until it was the largest painting
concern in the world. In 1986, following a hostile bid, the company was acquired by BET
.
In 1987 he established MITIE Group
, a business which works on the basis of allowing managers to convert shares in start-up concerns into shares in MITIE Group
itself.
Following a stay in hospital himself, he established the David Telling Charitable Trust to support medical research in the Bristol
area.
MITIE Group
MITIE Group PLC is a British strategic outsourcing and energy services company with their head office in Bristol, and more than 200 smaller offices throughout the UK and Ireland. MITIE operates mainly in the UK and Ireland with a growing presence in Europe...
, which is now one of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's largest facilities management companies. Born in Harrow
London Borough of Harrow
The London Borough of Harrow is a London borough of north-west London. It borders Hertfordshire to the north and other London boroughs: Hillingdon to the west, Ealing to the south, Brent to the south-east and Barnet to the east.-History:...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
on 12 August 1938 and brought up in Cleeve
Cleeve, Somerset
Cleeve is a village and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Somerset, England. It is situated within the unitary authority of North Somerset, south west of Bristol and has a population of 941 .-History:...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, David Telling was educated at Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
. He died on 31 October 2003, aged 65.
Career
Telling was required to undertake National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
and was commissioned into the King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
in December 1957: he guarded Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
at Spandau Prison
Spandau Prison
Spandau Prison was a prison situated in the borough of Spandau in western Berlin, constructed in 1876 and demolished in 1987 after the death of its last prisoner, Rudolf Hess, to prevent it from becoming a neo-Nazi shrine. The prison was near, though not part of, the Renaissance-era Spandau Citadel...
and saw active service during the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
.
Following his national service Telling went on to train as accountant. After managing the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based business Veronese, Telling went on to join the HAT Group, a building services business founded by his father, Albert Telling. David Telling became Managing Director of HAT Group in 1976 and Chairman in 1984. He expanded the business until it was the largest painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
concern in the world. In 1986, following a hostile bid, the company was acquired by BET
British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction Company Limited, renamed BET plc in 1985, was a large British industrial conglomerate. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by Rentokil in 1996, and the merged company is now known as Rentokil Initial.- Early history :The company was founded as...
.
In 1987 he established MITIE Group
MITIE Group
MITIE Group PLC is a British strategic outsourcing and energy services company with their head office in Bristol, and more than 200 smaller offices throughout the UK and Ireland. MITIE operates mainly in the UK and Ireland with a growing presence in Europe...
, a business which works on the basis of allowing managers to convert shares in start-up concerns into shares in MITIE Group
MITIE Group
MITIE Group PLC is a British strategic outsourcing and energy services company with their head office in Bristol, and more than 200 smaller offices throughout the UK and Ireland. MITIE operates mainly in the UK and Ireland with a growing presence in Europe...
itself.
Following a stay in hospital himself, he established the David Telling Charitable Trust to support medical research in the Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
area.